List of International Organisations And Their Functions

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list of international organizations and their functions

International organizations play a crucial role in fostering global cooperation, peace, and sustainable development. With over 300 intergovernmental organizations worldwide, many have been instrumental in facilitating collaboration among states on key global issues such as climate change, human rights, international trade, terrorism, and economic growth.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of international organizations, highlighting their significance, roles, and contributions to addressing pressing challenges.

List of Top International Organizations

International organizations are essential in addressing global challenges, fostering cooperation, and promoting development across countries. They work across various sectors such as health, education, finance, trade, and human rights, aiming to create a more interconnected and peaceful world.

Below we have given a list of international organizations highlights their key functions, and headquarters. From the United Nations to the World Trade Organization, each organization has a unique mandate that contributes to international peace, security, economic growth, and social well-being. Please have a look!

International OrganisationFunctionHeadquarters
United NationsPromotes peace, security, and cooperation among countriesNew York, USA
International Monetary Fund (IMF)Promotes international monetary cooperation and financial stabilityWashington, D.C., USA
World Health OrganizationCoordinates international health efforts, sets standards for public healthGeneva, Switzerland
UNESCOPromotes peace through education, science, culture, and communicationParis, France
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)Enhances regional cooperation and facilitates economic, political, and cultural integrationJakarta, Indonesia
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)Promotes policies to improve economic and social well-beingParis, France
South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)Promotes regional cooperation and development in South AsiaKathmandu, Nepal
World BankProvides financial assistance and advice for development projectsWashington, D.C., USA
World Trade Organization (WTO)Oversees global trade rules and resolves trade disputesGeneva, Switzerland
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)Promotes safe use of nuclear energy and ensures non-proliferationVienna, Austria
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)Promotes industrial development for poverty reductionVienna, Austria
Asian Development Bank (ADB)Supports development and poverty reduction in AsiaManila, Philippines
OPECCoordinates and unifies petroleum policies among oil-producing nationsVienna, Austria
African Development Bank (AfDB)Provides financial support and policy advice for African developmentAbidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
UNICEFProvides humanitarian aid and focuses on children’s rightsNew York, USA
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)Standardizes and coordinates global telecommunication policiesGeneva, Switzerland
International Labour Organization (ILO)Promotes labor rights and social justice globallyGeneva, Switzerland
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)Works on food security, nutrition, and agricultureRome, Italy
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)Works to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to biodiversityGland, Switzerland
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)Focuses on reproductive health and population developmentNew York, USA
Universal Postal Union (UPU)Coordinates international postal servicesBern, Switzerland
International Maritime Organization (IMO)Regulates shipping and maritime safetyLondon, UK
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)Provides humanitarian aid and protection to victims of armed conflictGeneva, Switzerland
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)Enforces the ban on chemical weapons and promotes disarmamentThe Hague, Netherlands
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)Develops international standards for various industriesGeneva, Switzerland
Commonwealth of NationsPromotes international cooperation and economic developmentLondon, UK
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Focuses on global development and poverty reductionNew York, USA
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)Focuses on rural poverty and agricultural developmentRome, Italy
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)Sets international standards for aviation safetyMontreal, Canada
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)Protects intellectual property globallyGeneva, Switzerland
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)Provides global leadership on weather, climate, and water issuesGeneva, Switzerland
UN WomenWorks on gender equality and women’s empowermentNew York, USA
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)Promotes sustainable urbanization and human settlementsNairobi, Kenya
UN Tourism (UNWTO)Promotes sustainable tourismMadrid, Spain
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)Promotes political and economic cooperation among Muslim countriesJeddah, Saudi Arabia
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)Promotes free trade and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific regionSingapore
International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)Promotes international business cooperationParis, France
New Development Bank (NDB)Provides financial support for development projectsShanghai, China
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)Provides protection and aid for refugees and displaced peopleGeneva, Switzerland
World Economic Forum (WEF)Engages global leaders to address economic and social issuesDavos, Switzerland
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)Works to conserve the environment and protect biodiversityGland, Switzerland
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)Enhances economic cooperation in the Indian Ocean regionEbene, Mauritius
Amnesty InternationalWorks to protect human rights worldwideLondon, UK
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)Promotes environmental sustainability globallyNairobi, Kenya
International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)Oversees the operation of international satellite telecommunicationsWashington, D.C., USA
International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)Regulates mobile satellite servicesLondon, UK
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)Coordinates the global response to HIV/AIDSGeneva, Switzerland
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)Focuses on drug control, crime prevention, and terrorismVienna, Austria
World Food Programme (WFP)Provides food assistance in emergencies and promotes food securityRome, Italy
International Organization for Migration (IOM)Supports migrants and migration-related issuesGeneva, Switzerland
United Nations University (UNU)Promotes global academic research and education on sustainable developmentTokyo, Japan

Let’s discuss the top 15 international organisations one by one, along with their functions, headquarters, and leaders.

1. United Nations Organization (UN)

As the first on our list of international organisations, the UN is the most popular intergovernmental institute responsible for the prevention of war and conflict in the world. The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose mission is to ensure international peace and security, promote cordial relations between nations, promote international cooperation, and serve as a central focus for coordinating national efforts.

United Nations Organization (UN)

It is the world’s largest, most well-known, most widely represented, and most powerful intergovernmental organization. The United Nations is headquartered in New York City, on international territory, with main offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna, and The Hague.

HeadquarterNew York, US
Established on24th October 1945
Secretary-GeneralAntonio Guterres

2. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Second, on our list of international organisations is UNICEF. UNICEF, or the United Nations Children’s Fund, is a United Nations organization that provides humanitarian and developmental aid to children around the world. With a presence in 192 countries and territories, the agency is one of the most well-known and well-known social welfare organisations in the world. Immunization and disease prevention are among UNICEF’s initiatives, as are HIV treatment for children and women, improving childhood and maternal nutrition, increasing sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in disasters.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
HeadquarterNew York, US
Established on11th December 1946
Current HeadHenrietta H. Fore

3. World Health Organisation (WHO)

Next on our list of international organizations is WHO. The World Health Organization (WHO) is a United Nations specialized organization in charge of international public health. “The attainment by all peoples of the highest attainable degree of health,” declares the WHO Constitution, which sets the agency’s governance structure and ideals. It has six semi-autonomous regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide, with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

HeadquarterGeneva, Switzerland
Established on7 April 1948
Current HeadDirector-General – Tedros Adhanom

4. World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum (WEF), based in Cologny, Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) created on January 24, 1971. “Committed to improving the status of the world by engaging commercial, governmental, intellectual, and other leaders of society to influence global, regional, and industry agendas,” reads the WEF’s mission statement.

HeadquarterCologny, Switzerland
Established onJanuary 1971
Current HeadKlaus Schwab

5. International Monetary Fund (IMF)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is one of the most prominent international organization and thus on our list. It is a 190-country international financial institution headquartered in Washington, D.C. that works to promote global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world while relying on the World Bank for resources on a periodic basis.

International Monetary Fund (IMF)
SOURCE: Business Standard
HeadquarterWashington, D.C., United States
Established on27 December 1945
Current HeadChief Economist – Gita Gopinath

6. World Bank

Next on our list of international organizations is the World Bank. The World Bank is an international financial agency that lends and gives money to governments in low- and middle-income nations to fund capital projects. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA) are the two institutions that make up the organization (IDA). The World Bank Group consists of the World Bank and its subsidiaries.

HeadquarterWashington, D.C., United States
Established inJuly 1944
Current HeadPresident of WV: David Malpass

7. World Trade Organization

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a multilateral organization that regulates and supports international trade. It began operations on January 1, 1995, as a result of the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, which replaced the 1948-established General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).

World Trade Organization
SOURCE: WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

With 164 member states representing over 96 per cent of global trade and GDP, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the world’s largest international economic organization.

HeadquarterGeneva, Switzerland
Established in1 January 1995
Current HeadRoberto Azevêdo

8. United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, French: Organization des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la Science, et la Culture) is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency charged with the duty of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, science, and culture. It consists of 193 member states, 11 associate members, and nongovernmental, intergovernmental, and corporate sector partners.

United Nations Education Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
SOURCE: UNESCO.org

UNESCO is headquartered in Paris, France, and has 53 regional field offices and 199 national commissions to help it carry out its global mandate.

HeadquarterParis, France
Established in16 November 1945
Current HeadAudrey Azoulay

9. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

South Asia’s major intergovernmental organization and the geopolitical union are the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are its members. As of 2019, the SAARC makes for 3% of the world’s land area, 21% of the world’s population, and 4.21 per cent (US$3.67 trillion) of the global economy.

HeadquarterKathmandu, Nepal
Established in8 December 1985, (in Dhaka, Bangladesh)
Current HeadSecretary-General – Esala Weerakoon

10. Association of South East Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is an economic union in Southeast Asia made up of ten member states that promote intergovernmental cooperation and facilitate economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other Asian countries.

The primary goal of ASEAN was to speed economic growth and, as a result, social and cultural development.

HeadquarterJakarta, Indonesia
Established in8 August 1967
Current HeadLim Jock Hoi Mon

11. Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD)

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; French: Organization de Coopération et de Développement Économiques, OCDE) is a 38-member intergovernmental economic organization formed in 1961 to promote economic advancement and global trade. As one of the most prominent international organizations on our list, the OECD is responsible for trade and economic activities. It is a forum of countries that identify themselves as committed to democracy and the market economy. It serves as a forum for members to share policy experiences, seek solutions to shared challenges, identify best practices, and coordinate their domestic and international policies.

HeadquarterParis, France
Established in30 September 1961
Current HeadAngel Gurría

12. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is an international development bank dedicated to improving Asia’s economic and social conditions. Currently, the bank has 103 members and 21 prospective members from all around the world.

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
SOURCE: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank

The bank began operations after the agreement went into effect on December 25, 2015, with ratifications from ten member states accounting for 50 per cent of the Authorized Capital Stock initial subscriptions.

HeadquarterBeijing, China
Established inJanuary 2016 (began operations)
Current HeadJin Liqun

13. New Development Bank (BRICS Development Bank)

The New Development Bank (NDB), originally known as the BRICS Development Bank, is a global development bank founded by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). “The Bank shall support public or private initiatives through loans, guarantees, equity participation, and other financial instruments,” according to the NDB Agreement.

HeadquarterShanghai, China
Established in15 July 2014
Current HeadK. V. Kamath

14. Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Next on our list of international organizations is ADB. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank headquartered in the Ortigas Center in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. It was founded on December 19, 1966. In addition, the corporation operates 31 field offices around the world to promote Asia’s social and economic development.

HeadquarterManila, Philippines
Established in19 December 1966
Current HeadMasatsugu Asakawa

15. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Last on our list of international organizations is the WWF. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization that seeks to preserve wilderness and reduce the human effects on the environment. It was created in 1961. The World Wildlife Fund was its last name, and it is still used in Canada and the United States.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
SOURCE: WWF

With over five million supporters globally, WWF is the world’s largest conservation organization, working in over 100 countries and supporting around 3,000 conservation and environmental projects.

HeadquarterGland, Switzerland
Established in29 April 1961
Current HeadCarter Roberts

FAQs on International Organisations

What is the Most Powerful Organization in the World?

One of the Most Powerful Organizations in the World is the United Nations (UN).

What is the full form of UNICEF?

The full form of UNICEF is the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund.

When was the World Wide Fund for Nature established?

World Wide Fund for Nature was established in the year 1961 on 29th April.

How many international organisations are there?

The exact number of international organizations is challenging to determine as it depends on their classification. Broadly speaking, there are over 300 recognized organizations, including prominent ones like the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and more.

What are examples of international organisations?

Some prominent examples of international organisations include:
United Nations Organization (UN)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
World Food Programme (WFP)

What are the 15 agencies of the UN?

The United Nations (UN) system comprises various specialized agencies, each focusing on specific global issues. Here are the 15 specialized agencies of the UN:
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Bank Group (WBG)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

What is the list of international organizations and their functions?

International organizations are global entities formed by multiple countries to address common issues and promote cooperation. Some examples include:
United Nations (UN): Promotes peace, security, and human rights.
World Health Organization (WHO): Coordinates international public health efforts.
World Trade Organization (WTO): Regulates global trade and commerce.
International Monetary Fund (IMF): Provides financial support to member countries in need.
Each of these organizations serves a specific function, such as fostering peace, improving global health, facilitating trade, or ensuring financial stability.

What are the top 10 most powerful international organizations in the world?

The most powerful international organizations influence global policies, economics, and security. Some of the top organizations include:
United Nations (UN)
World Bank (WB)
World Health Organization (WHO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
European Union (EU)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
These organizations have significant influence on global governance, economic development, and international diplomacy.

What is the role of international organizations?

International organizations play key roles in fostering global cooperation and addressing worldwide issues. Their primary functions include:
Promoting peace and security.
Addressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and health crises.
Facilitating trade and economic development.
Protecting human rights and providing humanitarian aid.
These organizations bring countries together to collaborate on solutions for global problems, ensuring a more interconnected and peaceful world.

Can you provide examples of international organizations?

Here are some well-known examples of international organizations and their functions:
United Nations (UN): Maintains international peace and security.
World Bank (WB): Provides financial assistance for development projects.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Promotes global peace through education, culture, and science.
International Labour Organization (ILO): Ensures social justice and fair labor standards worldwide.
These organizations represent various sectors such as health, education, economics, and human rights.

What are international organizations?

International organizations are bodies formed by multiple countries to promote cooperation, address global challenges, and manage international relations. They can be either governmental (IGOs) or non-governmental (NGOs). Examples include the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

How many international organizations are there?

There are over 300 international organizations globally, including prominent ones like the United Nations (UN), World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The exact number can vary depending on classification and scope, but there are many regional, global, and specialized agencies.

What is the difference between international organizations and international institutions?

While both terms involve cooperation between countries, international organizations are specific entities with defined functions and structures, such as the United Nations (UN) or the World Trade Organization (WTO). In contrast, international institutions refer to established practices, rules, and norms that govern relations between countries, such as trade agreements or diplomatic treaties.

What are the most influential international organizations?

Some of the most influential international organizations include:
United Nations (UN): Addresses global peace, security, and development.
World Bank (WB): Provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries.
World Trade Organization (WTO): Regulates global trade.
International Monetary Fund (IMF): Supports global monetary cooperation and financial stability.
These organizations shape global policies, foster international relations, and drive economic and social development.

What is an international organization’s purpose?

The purpose of an international organization is to provide a platform for countries to collaborate on global issues, develop solutions for shared problems, and promote peace, security, economic development, and human rights. These organizations work to maintain global order, address crises, and encourage cooperation across borders.

Why are international organizations important?

International organizations are crucial for fostering global cooperation, addressing shared challenges such as climate change, poverty, and health crises, and maintaining peace and security. They help countries work together, manage conflicts, and ensure global stability through diplomacy, aid, and collaboration.

This was all about the list of international organizations and their headquarters. Hope this was helpful. Good luck with your studies! If you want to get into your dream course in a high-ranked global university, you’ll need more than just good grades; you’ll also need flawless application because the competition is fierce. You may enlist the assistance of Leverage Edu specialists to assist you with the application process so that you can realize your goals. Call us immediately at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.

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    1. Hi Buay,
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